Lateral Controls of AV Using Sliding Mode
Lateral Controls of AV Using Sliding Mode
Abstract
In this paper, a novel Lyapunov-based robust controller by using meta-heuristic optimization algorithm has been pro-
posed for lateral control of an autonomous vehicle. In the first step, double lane change path has been designed using a
fifth-degree polynomial (quantic) function and dynamic constraints. A lane changing path planning method has been used
to design the double lane change manoeuvre. In the next step, position and orientation errors have been extracted based
on the two-degree-of-freedom vehicle bicycle model. A combination of sliding mode and backstepping controllers has
been used to control the steering in this paper. Overall stability of the combined controller has been analytically proved
by defining a Lyapunov function and based on Lyapunov stability theorem. The proposed controller includes some
constant parameters which have effects on controller performance; therefore, particle swarm optimization algorithm
has been used for finding optimum values of these parameters. The comparing result of the proposed controller with
backstepping controller illustrated the better performance of the proposed controller, especially in the low road fric-
tions. Simulation of designed controllers has been conducted by linking CarSim software with Matlab/Simulink which
provides a nonlinear full vehicle model. The simulation was performed for manoeuvres with different durations and road
frictions. The proposed controller has outperformed the backstepping controller, especially in low frictions.
Keywords
Vehicle lateral control, autonomous vehicle, backstepping controller, sliding mode controller, Lyapunov-based controllers
quickly and responsively to follow the designed path improved the results compared to the classical sliding
by using steering and braking systems.3 Controlling mode controller. In Janbakhsh et al.,15 switching gain
steering has significant impacts on control of the vehi- is updated based on the sliding surface. This control-
cle on the designed path direction, and it is the main ler does not need an upper limit of uncertainty in
discussion of the current paper. determining switching gain as well as the adaptive
Advanced active chassis control systems include sliding surface has a good performance. Based on
four-wheel steering (4WS), active front steering (AFS), the designed controller by Li et al.,16 sliding surface
steer-by-wire (SBW) and direct yaw moment control and its derivations enter a fuzzy logic system and its
(DYC) in which steering system plays the central role. output execute the command to do the manoeuvre. In
Generally, there are three structures in the active steer- FNNs sliding mode controller, sliding surface enters
ing systems that include 4WS, active rear steering (ARS) an FNN controller, and its output generates the vehi-
and active front steering and four-wheel active steering cle command. Results indicated better performance
(4WAS).4 Vehicle active steering plays a crucial role in compare to the sliding mode controller.19 In the adap-
accident avoidance, vehicle handling and vehicle stabil- tive fuzzy sliding mode controller,17 system error
ity when facing changes in road conditions or the pres- enters the fuzzy controller after creating sliding sur-
ence of an obstacle.5 Vehicle active steering has face, and fuzzy controller factors are updated based
applications in tracking the manoeuvres, especially in on the system error. Finally, adding this controller to
autonomous vehicles, and is very useful in tracking the equivalent sliding mode controller provides vehi-
the optimum path. The most common chassis control cle commands. Alipour et al.18 used a combination of
is the 4WS that depends on tire lateral force which is PI controller and sliding mode controller to create an
proportional to the steer angle in a range where the lat- improved sliding mode controller which showed more
eral acceleration is small. Under this circumstance, the precise results compared to the sliding mode controller.
control law can be introduced rather easily by adopting Meta-heuristic optimization algorithms are used enor-
a two-degree-of-freedom (2-DOF) linear vehicle model6 mously to design controllers.20,21 Genetic algorithm
Lyapunov method is a very useful tool for feedback has been used to optimize the FNN controller for
controller design. Many of the feedback control tech- tracking the vehicle’s manoeuvre in lane changing.20
niques are based on the idea of a Lyapunov function Proportional integral derivative (PID) and linear quad-
definition or, more specifically, are based on the deriva- ratic regulator (LQR) controllers are optimized using
tive of the Lyapunov function which guarantees the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm.21 Of
convergence to an equilibrium point or a point of sta- course, one of the fundamental problems in the use
bility. Backstepping and sliding mode controllers are of optimization algorithms is that they take much
feedback controllers based on the Lyapunov. The back- time to respond and convergence which makes them
stepping controller is designed based on the Lyapunov unusable in real-time systems.
function definition. The backstepping controller can use In this study, the backstepping controller is com-
high flexibility to solve stability, tracking and robust bined with a sliding mode controller to design a lateral
control with lower limitations than other methods. controller for tracking the reference path. The PSO
Sliding mode controller is a prevalent method in algorithm is used to optimize control system param-
robust control design. Sliding mode control, the sliding eters. The cost function of this optimization is the
surface gets to an equilibrium point in a limited time and sliding surfaces of the sliding mode controller and
keeps the system in future time on that point.7 the controller output. Based on the references, both
Robust control methods in the design of the lateral backstepping and sliding model controller has good
vehicle controller, particularly control methods based control performance in controlling nonlinear systems.
on Lyapunov stability, are beneficial due to the pres- Therefore, combining these two controllers and using
ence of uncertainties in vehicle systems. Guo et al.8 a meta-heuristic optimization algorithm for finding
used an integrated longitudinal and lateral move- the constant coefficient have achieved the perfect
ments that designed a path-tracking system based on tracking of desired inputs. On the other hand, analyt-
the integral backstepping controller. Another study ical proof of Lyapunov stability for integration con-
designed and tested a backstepping controller for troller guarantees the stability of the proposed
lane change manoeuvre and their results of tests pre- controller. In this study, the two-degree vehicle
sented the proper convergence of errors.9 Unlike model and lateral position and orientation error
backstepping controllers, sliding mode controllers model with constant longitudinal velocity have been
and their integration with other control laws have used. Controller simulation has been conducted using
been extensively used by researchers. Using sliding a full vehicle model by linkage of Matlab/Simulink
mode control based on Lyapunov stability, proper with CarSim. The desired path is a double lane
results of stability and path tracking are presented change manoeuvre which is used for overtaking man-
in literature.10–14 However, its integration with the oeuvres. Simulation results indicated accurate track-
adaptive control law,15 fuzzy systems,16 adaptive ing compare to the backstepping controller in low
fuzzy systems,17 the proportional integral (PI) con- (0.3) and high (0.9) frictions and also in different man-
troller18 and fuzzy neural networks (FNNs)19 oeuvre durations.
Norouzi et al. 143
Tyre model
Two-DOF bicycle model has been used for designing
controller. This model has proposed based on linear
tyre model.24 The controller has been applied to
CarSim by linking CarSim software with Matlab/
Simulink. Therefore, the controller has been tested
based on nonlinear tyre mode. The CarSim has been
developed based on several tyre models. The extended
model (more tables for camber effects), the Pacejka
5.2 version of the magic formula, and MF-Tyre
Figure 1. Double lane change designed reference path. from TASS/TNO has been used in running.
144 Proc IMechE Part K: J Multi-body Dynamics 233(1)
Figure 2. A schematic view of a 2-DOF vehicle bicycle model and lateral position and orientation errors.
2 3 2 3
x1 e1 Design of backstepping controller
6x 7 6 e_ 7
~ ¼6
X 6 7
27 6 17
¼6 7 ð11Þ The controllers that resist against disturbances
4 x3 5 4 e2 5 and uncertainty of parameters are called robust con-
x4 e_2 trollers. The backstepping controller is a robust con-
troller. Equations (7) and (8) are considered as the
standard equations of the system in which 2 Rn ,
The correlation coefficients of equation (10) are 2 Rm and u 2 Rm (m can be greater than 1).
presented in Table 1. Assume that f, fa , G and Ga are smooth functions
Norouzi et al. 145
(and defined) on the domain of the question, and also Applying equation (18) to equation (9) yields
f and fa are zero at the origin and matrix Ga ðm mÞ is
non-singular. Also, assume that the system equation x_ 1 ¼ GðÞ ¼ x1 ð20Þ
(equation (8)) can stabilize using a feedback controller
¼ ðÞ by ð0Þ ¼ 0 while Lyapunov function To prove the Lyapunov stability, equation (19) is
(smooth and positive defined) VðÞ is applied in the differentiated
following inequality
_
VðÞ ¼ 3x1 x_ 1 ð21Þ
@V
¼ ½ f ðÞ þ GðÞðÞ4 W ðÞ ð13Þ
@ Using equations (20) and (21), the Lyapunov sta-
bility is proved
The Lyapunov candidate function is defined based
on systems equation (equations (7) and (8)) as follow7 _
VðÞ ¼ 3x21 40 ð22Þ
The sliding surface is defined as equation (28), and global best position known so far. These pos-
which is, in fact, the difference between and ’ðÞ. itions are updated each time a new position is
found. Therefore, one expects for the particles to
S ¼ ’ðÞ ð28Þ move towards the best possible solution.
In order to prove that the slip surface is converged
In addition, the Lyapunov candidate function is towards zero, the Lyapunov function is considered as
considered as equation (29) follows. Through differentiating the equations, the
stability is proved analytically.
1
Va ð, Þ ¼ VðÞ þ ðSÞ2 ð29Þ
2 1
Vs ¼ S2
2
So, the derivatives of Va in direction of equations @’
¼ SS_ ¼ S _ _
(7) and (8) is obtained as @
ð34Þ
@’ðÞ
@’ ¼ S fa þ Ga u ð f þ GÞ
V_ a ¼ V_ þ ð ’Þ fa þ Ga u ð f þ GÞ ð30Þ @
@
4Sðk sgnðSÞÞ
and the control input is as 4 kjSj
@ @V By choosing a k greater than zero, the sliding sur-
u ¼ G1
a ð f þ GÞ G fa k sgnð ’Þ
@ @ face is converged towards zero.
k50 ð31Þ In order to design the controller for the bicycle
model of vehicle, the ¼ ðÞ applied on the back-
stepping control (equation (18)) is employed. Using
Using equations (26) and (31), the designed con- equation (28), the sliding surface is obtained.
troller’s stability (equation (30)) can be proved using 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3
the Lyapunov stability theorem as s1 1 x2 x2 þ x1
6 7 6 7 6 7 6 7
@’ S¼6 7 6 7 6 7 6 7
4 s2 5 ¼ ’ðÞ ¼ x1 4 1 5 þ 4 x3 5 ¼ 4 x3 þ x1 5
_ _ 2
Va ¼ V þ SS4 ckk2 þS _ _
@ s3 1 x4 x4 þ x1
2 @’ ð35Þ
4 ckk2 þS fa þ Ga u ð f GÞ
@
4 ckk22 þsðk sgnðSÞÞ Considering the matrix Ga, the sliding surface s2 is
zero, because the second row of Ga matrix is zero.
4 ckk22 þðkÞ jSj Thus, it has no effect on the control input. The
ð32Þ input control of the integrated controller is obtained
using equation (31).
Choosing k50 thus 22 3 0 2 31 02 313
1 x2 0
V_ a 4 kk22 þjSj ð33Þ 66 B 6 7C B6 7C7
6 4 1 7
5 @ 0 1 0 4 x3 5A @4 3x1 5 A 7
6 7
where is positive. So, according to Lyapunov stabil- 6 7
T6
6 1 x4 0 7
ity theorem, this system is always stable. In the pres- uBS ¼ Ga 6 2 32 3 2 3 7
a a a x sgnðs Þ 7
ence of disturbances, the condition k for the stability 6 11 12 13 2 1 7
6 6 76 7 6 7 7
of both controllers (i.e. backstepping controller and 6 4 0 0 1 5 4 x 5 k 4 sgnðs Þ 5 7
4 3 2 5
backstepping controller integrated with sliding mode a21 a22 a23 x4 sgnðs3 Þ
controller) must be greater than upper bounds of the
ð36Þ
disturbance. Choosing a greater k, one would resist
against disturbances, but the control input would where uBS is the control input of the proposed con-
have also high value. In this paper, advantages of troller. Simplifying equation (37), the control input is
defining an appropriate cost function and applying obtained as
the PSO meta-heuristic method were taken. PSO is
an iterative computing method which optimizes a u^ B,S ¼ ðb1 a12 þ b2 a22 þ b1 þ b2 Þ x3
problem through improving possible solutions in
terms of certain quality criteria. Considering an initial ðb1 a13 þ b2 a23 Þ x4 ðb1 a11 þ b2 a21 Þ x2
population of possible solutions as particles and k ðb1 sgn ðx2 þ x1 Þ þ b2 sgn ðx4 þ x1 ÞÞ
moving them in search space, the PSO method opti- u^ B:S
mizes and solves the problem using a simple formula uB:S ¼ 2
ðb1 þ b22 Þ
in terms of the position and velocity of each particle.
ð37Þ
The movements of particles are influenced by the local
Norouzi et al. 147
Taking into account the chattering phenomenon in is the F-class model with specifications summarized in
the sliding mode controller, the Sat function has been Table 2. Simulations were conducted for two double
used rather than the Sign function. Noting that the lane change manoeuvres of 3 and 5 s. To demonstrate
value of s2 is equal to zero, the sliding surfaces are the robustness of the designed controllers, the simu-
redefined as lation was done for low (0.3) and high (0.9) frictions
and a longitudinal velocity of 30 m/s. Figures 4 and 5
s1 ¼ x2 þ x1
ð38Þ
s2 ¼ x4 þ x1
Table 2. The vehicle parameters in this study.
ðb1 a12 þ b2 a22 Þ ðb1 a13 þ b2 a23 Þ
uB:S ¼ 2 2
e_1 e_2 Symbol Description Quantity
b1 þ b2 b21 þ b22
ðb1 a12 þ b2 a22 þ b1 þ b2 Þ m Mass 1704.7 kg
e2 Iz Yaw moment of inertia 3048.1 kg.m2
b21 þ b22
lf Front axle-COG distance 1.035 m
k b1 satðsl1 Þ þ b2 satðsl2 Þ
lr Rear axle-COG distance 1.655 m
b21 þ b22
Cf Cornering stiffness of front tire 105850 N/rad
ð39Þ Cr Cornering stiffness of the rear tire 79030 N/rad
Road friction coefficient [0.3–0.9]
where l indicates the thickness of the boundary layer. Vx Longitude velocity 30 m/s
The k value in equation (39) is obtained using the PSO ti lane change manoeuvres start time
method and the cost function shown in equation (40). tf lane change manoeuvres end time
The cost function is defined in terms of minimizing the Front wheel steering angle
sliding surface and control input. d Desired yaw rate from road
Z t
e1 Lateral position error concern-
Costfunc: ¼ ðjs1 j þ js2 j þ jujÞ dt ð40Þ ing the road
0 e2 Yaw angle error concerning
the road
The controlling diagram of the proposed control
Thickness of the boundary layer
law is shown in Figure 3.
K Switching gain of proposed
controller
Simulation and results Constant Value in Lyapunov
stability proof
In this paper, the Simulink and CarSim software have
S Sliding surface matrix
been linked together to simulate the system using the
V Lyapunov function
full vehicle model. The equations of motion in the
uB Controller output of backstepping
CarSim math models are valid for full nonlinear 3D
controller
motions of rigid bodies. The components that have
uB:S Controller output of backstep-
significant effect on handling, braking, and acceler-
ping-sliding surface based on
ation are represented with nonlinear tables of meas- PSO optimization controller
urable data. The used vehicle model for the simulation
Figure 4. The simulation of backstepping controller and the proposed controller for manoeuvre of 5 s and friction of 0.9.
Figure 5. The simulation of backstepping controller and the proposed controller for manoeuvre of 5 s and friction of 0.3.
illustrate the simulation results for the manoeuvre of (control output), the yaw angle, slip angle and the roll
5 s. Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the simulation results for angle of the vehicle, respectively.
the manoeuvre of 3 s. Sub-figures from left to right For higher frictions and different manoeuvres,
show simulated and desired vehicle paths, sliding sur- the performance of both controller are almost the
face of the proposed controller, position and orienta- same. However, the performance of the proposed con-
tion errors with respect to time, steering of the vehicle troller in eliminating the position error is remarkable.
Norouzi et al. 149
Figure 6. The simulation of backstepping controller and the proposed controller for manoeuvre of 3 s and friction of 0.9.
Figure 7. The simulation of backstepping controller and the proposed controller for manoeuvre of 3 s and friction of 0.3.
In terms of the steering angle, the proposed controller achieving the full tracking. In terms of the roll
has lower effort, but associated with it some variations angle, the proposed controller shows better results
which should be addressed in the future works. For again. For manoeuvre of 3 s, the controller has pre-
lower frictions, the performance of the proposed con- served its good performance which results in low roll
troller is evidently significant. For manoeuvre of 5 s, slip angles. The variations of the steering in this man-
the controller shows better results, particularly in oeuvre are significant, and their effect on the path is
minimizing the position and orientation errors and evident. As it is shown in Figure 7(a), the vehicle has
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